Concord University vs West Virginia Northern Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Concord University comes closer — median earnings $42,703 against a $39,864 total, vs $30,162 at West Virginia Northern Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Concord University | West Virginia Northern Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,966 | $5,329 |
| Total net cost | $39,864 | $10,658 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,703 | $30,162 |
| Median debt | $18,900 | $10,245 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$153,004 | -$374,618 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Concord University or West Virginia Northern Community College?
West Virginia Northern Community College, at $5,329 a year after aid versus $9,966 — a gap of $4,637 a year, or $29,206 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Concord University or West Virginia Northern Community College graduates earn more?
Concord University graduates report a median $42,703 ten years after entry, $12,541 more than the $30,162 at West Virginia Northern Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Concord University or West Virginia Northern Community College?
West Virginia Northern Community College: its completers carry a median $10,245 in federal loans versus $18,900 at Concord University, a difference of $8,655. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Concord University, against 33% at West Virginia Northern Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.